'Justice is Mind'

Movie partially filmed in NH to be screened in Merrimack

MERRIMACK — The New Hampshire premiere of "Justice Is Mind," a movie that was partially filmed in the Granite State with several area actors, will take place this week in Merrimack.

"This is very exciting for us. It is great when we can finally bring a film home," said Mark Lund, executive producer, director and writer. "Conservatively, I would probably say that about 30 percent of the film's cast and crew are from New Hampshire."

"Justice Is Mind" is a science fiction film based in the year 2026. It is set in the future where advanced MRI technology can read a person's memory. The movie follows businessman and restaurant owner Henri Miller, who has been afflicted with unexplained headaches since childhood.

When Miller undergoes a new MRI procedure, it reveals that he allegedly shot and killed two people, even though he has no recollection of the incident. The finding prompts the trial of the century when Miller is faced with his own memory in the courtroom and a dark family secret kept by Miller's father is unveiled.

Granite State connections

The movie stars Paul Lussier and his co-star, Michele Mortensen, both from New Hampshire. The film's director of photography, Jeremy Blaiklock, is also a Granite State resident, according to Lund.

Parts of the movie were filmed at Giorgio's Ristorante in Merrimack and Milford. A bank in the Lake Sunapee area was also used to film a scene, he said. Several area residents were used as extras, added Lund.

"With a low-budget independent feature, there is not a lot of compensation," said Lund. "It is nice for the actors and crew to be able to invite their friends and family to a premiere in their area, especially if they couldn't attend the world premiere in Albany, New York."

He described the crew as dynamic and exciting, saying they were a pleasure to work with. The film was first unveiled on Aug. 18 in New York. Wednesday's screening in Merrimack will be the 11th screening of the film.

"The reaction has been very good. I am pleased with it. There are different parts of this film that resonate differently with certain people," said Lund. "I find the most engaging part to be when the audience realizes the possibility that memories could be unveiled during trial. It is scary, understandably."

The public is invited to attend the screening at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Cinemagic Theater, 11 Executive Park Drive. Tickets are available online or at the door for $10 each. The film is about 150 minutes.

According to Lund, there exists computer program technology that was developed in 2009 that allows a unique MRI to study brain activity, locate working memory updates and retrieve memories. The psychology department at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania has been studying this concept.

"This is today. Imagine what could happen 10 years from now," said Lund.

In the film, there is a two-minute segment that highlights Miller's memories while he undergoes the MRI procedure. That two-minutes of screen time took several extra days of filming, editing, distortion and special effects, according to Lund, who described the small segment as a production itself.

Lund, from Worcester, Mass., is busy completing two other films. "First World" is his next film, which is based in 2018 in China when the country sends astronauts to the moon for the first time.

His second film is a political thriller titled "SOS United States" that portrays a nuclear device stationed on an ocean liner headed to America.